Paul Lipscombe, a senior NHS manager from Rothley, Leicestershire, has been sentenced to 28 years in prison after admitting to a shocking series of sexual offences against young girls he groomed on Snapchat. Described by Judge Keith Raynor as "devious, scheming and manipulative," Lipscombe’s crimes have sent shockwaves through the medical community, law enforcement, and the wider public, raising urgent questions about the safety of children on social media platforms and the adequacy of online safeguards.
According to Sky News, the 51-year-old, who worked as an associate director of NHS performance in Coventry and earned at least £91,000 a year, pleaded guilty to 34 offences against six girls aged between 12 and 15. The offences, which occurred between September 2023 and April 2024, included two counts of rape of a child under 13, 21 counts of sexual activity with a child, three counts of sexual assault of a child under 13, causing or inciting a child to engage in sexual activity, making indecent photographs of children, and distributing indecent photographs of children.
Lipscombe’s predatory campaign began with the creation of multiple Snapchat profiles under fake names such as 'Dom Woodmore' and 'George.' BBC News reported that he used these identities to befriend vulnerable girls, often lying about his age and presenting himself as being in his late 20s or early 30s. Olivia (not her real name), one of the girls he contacted, recalled, "He just said 'hi', it was a pretty boring conversation, the first one. I was going through a rough time with family and stuff... and it's not that I felt alone, but I wanted reassurance." Lipscombe exploited this vulnerability, offering comfort and gifts—sometimes promising vapes, alcohol, or lifts—to gain trust and manipulate his young targets.
Five of the six girls agreed to meet Lipscombe in person, where they were raped or sexually assaulted in rented hotels, Airbnbs, Premier Inn hotels, Travelodges, and even rural car parks. The sixth girl, Olivia, never met him face-to-face but was still subjected to his persistent grooming attempts. The harrowing sequence of events unraveled in April 2024 when a 15-year-old girl, reported missing by her family, was found with Lipscombe. She told officers she had been raped by him after being picked up late at night and taken to a hotel. Police arrested Lipscombe at a KFC drive-through in Birstall, near Leicester, after tracing his Tesla. The girl was later found at a nearby Airbnb.
Police searches of Lipscombe’s hotel room, car, and home uncovered a disturbing cache of evidence: soft toys, restraints, bottles of vodka, and multiple mobile phones, some of which had been wiped clean. Investigators also discovered a significant number of indecent images of children on his devices and online storage accounts. According to Sky News, Lipscombe had been running a website selling both real and AI-generated child sexual abuse videos, offering 'gold level' access to his content for thousands of pounds. In one instance, a man paid more than £3,700 for access to images and a "step-by-step guide" for grooming children.
During sentencing, Judge Raynor told Lipscombe, "The evidence shows you to have been devious, scheming and manipulative. You were bold in your offending and you took very high risks. The sexual abuse of young girls was an obsession in life for you." He added, "You told your wife you were going to business trips but in truth you were going to engage in your sexual interest in young girls. Your thought processes were and remain warped but you knew what you were doing was criminal." The judge also described Lipscombe as "intelligent, confident, resourceful and well-organised," noting that his victims were "truly vulnerable."
Detective Constable Lauren Speight of the Child Abuse Investigation Unit echoed these sentiments, stating, "He would say: 'I can get you vapes, drink, I can pick you up and take you wherever. I'm not a creepy old man.' Every aspect of the playbook, he used it." Speight described Lipscombe’s actions as "calculating, premeditated, and well-organised." Police believe there may be additional victims and are urging anyone who had contact with Lipscombe to come forward. As she put it, "Our investigation into the offending carried out by this man is continuing. We suspect he may have been in contact with other girls and could well have committed sexual offences against others."
Following Lipscombe’s arrest, the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust suspended him from his administrative, non-patient-facing role, before formally dismissing him in June 2024. In a statement, the Trust said, "We would like to praise the girls and their families, as well as Leicestershire Police, for their bravery and courage in bringing Paul Lipscombe to justice for these horrendous crimes." The Trust clarified that there was "nothing identified at this stage to indicate this individual's criminal activity was committed as part of their role."
The case has reignited debate about the responsibilities of social media platforms in protecting children from online predators. Snapchat, which was used by Lipscombe to contact his victims, said in a statement, "Sexual exploitation of young people is an abhorrent crime, and we are committed to combatting it. We work with law enforcement to help keep such activity off our platform and bring criminals to justice, and we've done that in this particular case." Snapchat highlighted recent child protection measures introduced in September 2023, including private friends lists, default-off location sharing, and pop-up warnings when children are contacted by adults with whom they share no mutual friends. However, many believe these measures do not go far enough.
Olivia, reflecting on her experience, called for stricter age verification on social media: "I think everybody should have to do facial recognition to prove how old you are." She argued that children should only be able to interact with others close to their own age, to prevent predatory adults from gaining access. Rani Govender, NSPCC policy manager, criticized platforms for failing to clamp down on fake accounts, stating, "It's entirely unreasonable to expect children to be able to spot these and to be able to protect themselves from abuse. That onus really has to be on companies to think about who is able to create profiles and who is able to use them."
The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) noted that Snapchat had been used in half of the grooming cases it had seen involving evidence of grooming on social media. The case also highlighted the growing use of AI in generating abusive material, adding a new layer of complexity for law enforcement and child protection agencies.
With Lipscombe now on the sex offenders register for life and serving a lengthy sentence, police and campaigners continue to stress the need for vigilance—both from families and from technology companies—to prevent similar abuses in the future. As the investigation continues, authorities remain concerned that additional victims may yet come forward, underscoring the far-reaching impact of one man’s calculated and devastating crimes.
